Carmelita Lavayna Portugal, 86, passed away on August 13, 2023 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.  She was born on May 6, 1937, in Manila, Philippines and immigrated to the United States in 1967, settling in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for over 50 years.  Carmelita was a loving wife to Salvador A. Portugal for 51 years, a devoted mother to her children, Fatima and Will, and caring "Lola" to her five grandchildren, Ben, Lili, Joel, Leo, and Matthew.  She is preceded in death by her mother, Victoria Lavayna, and her father, Reverend Guillermo Lavayna, M.D.

Carmelita had a distinguished career in the field of education.  She was a Fulbright-Hays Scholarship Grantee at the University of Pittsburgh, where she later became the Director of the International and Development Education Program Clearinghouse.  She also had the opportunity to work as a librarian for the United States Department of the Interior and the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh.  She was very active in volunteering serving as Public Relations Officer for the Filipino American Association of Pittsburgh, a member of the Shadyside Action Coalition, and was very involved with her civic duties as an election poll worker.

Outside of her professional life, Carmelita had a passion for travel, reading, education, volunteering, and singing.  She was dedicated to her family and cherished spending time with them.

Carmelita's dedication to her family, education, and career will be remembered by all who knew her. She will be greatly missed.